The number of complaints about politicians’ defamation has risen sharply again, reaching a new all‑time record.
In 2025 the Central Register for Criminally Relevant Content on the Internet (ZMI) received 6,246 reports under Section 188 of the German Criminal Code, which covers insults against politicians. The German Federal Police spokesperson told the “Stern” that this represents a 30 % increase from the previous year. In 2024 the police investigated about 4,439 cases under Section 188, compared with 2,598 in 2023 and 1,404 in 2022.
The debate over reforming Section 188 has intensified after a retired pensioner recently received a police notice for calling Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) “Pinocchio”. “People who hold public office are more exposed to public scrutiny than others” said Hessian Minister President Boris Rhein (CDU) to the “Stern”. He added that career politicians must “accept sharpened, sometimes polemical remarks and even insults to a certain degree”. According to Rhein, that is part of a vibrant democracy, but the line is crossed when words become threats. He singled out intimidation of volunteer local politicians as especially damaging.
“If people can no longer tell whether their statement is constructive criticism or an insult, it ultimately hampers freedom of expression” warned Left Party leader Jan van Aken. He noted that senior politicians enjoy many benefits in life, including “special protection from insults”.
University law professor and Sächsian constitutional judge Elisa Hoven calls for limiting Section 188’s scope to local politicians. She says that federal representatives or the chancellor should only be subject to special rules in the most severe cases, such as racism. “Otherwise they are protected from insults just like any other citizen” Hoven said, warning of looming self‑censorship due to fears of over‑zealous prosecution.
In January, parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn called for a reform of the statute, joined by CDU MP Christoph Ploß. “The laws were well‑intentioned but unfortunately have had the opposite effect” Ploß said. He too advocates a fundamental overhaul, arguing that the current regulation empowers radical forces.
